Sharapova forced to fight for fourth round berth

Maria Sharapova powered into the second week of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win over Alize Cornet.

In milder temperatures than had greeted players previously this week, the Russian third seed started sharply, breaking Cornet twice before the Frenchwoman could settle into a rhythm.

With devastating groundstrokes, particularly her inside-out forehand and cross-court backhand, Sharapova was crushing Cornet as if she was first-round fodder rather than the 25th seed.

Cornet was gifted a break in the fifth game as Sharapova made a string of errors but the 2008 Open champion resumed normal service by immediately breaking back to love and serving out the set.

I definitely need to step it up. It's never an easy road and I was lucky to get through the other day.

Maria Sharapova

Cornet, the last Frenchwoman to win the junior French Open title, held her serve for the first time in the opening game of the second set and fought back from 0-40 to keep games on serve at 2-1.

Having fought her way into the match, Cornet was able to rally well but was largely without Sharapova's ability to finish points off her own racquet.

However, Sharapova's shaky serve helped Cornet break Sharapova with a stunning drop volley to lead 3-1.

Sharapova responded as she did in the first set, breaking to love to steady the ship.

The second set had evolved into a meeting of contemporaries but Sharapova kept her winners count ticking over, winning the bigger points to maintain ascendancy.

At 5-4 and serving for the set, Sharapova's failing serve allowed Cornet to break again and extend her stay on Rod Laver Arena, eventually forcing a tiebreak.

Often nursing her serve over the line, Sharapova saved a set point before triumphing 8-6, ending Cornet's Australian Open in the third round for the fourth straight grand slam after one hour and 51 minutes.

"It's never over til the last point is finished," Sharapova said.

"After the last match I'm just happy to get through this one and to have another day to recover.

"I definitely need to step it up. It's never an easy road and I was lucky to get through the other day."

Cibulkova ruthless against Suarez Navarro

Sharapova set up an intriguing fourth-round encounter with 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova with the win, her third-straight appearance in the Australian Open's second week.

Cibulkova was ruthless in her 6-1, 6-0 demolition of 16th seed Carla Suarez Navarro, who was carrying an injury, hitting 20 winners in the 59-minute match.

The Slovakian has not dropped a set at the Open in three matches and has repeated her best performance at Melbourne Park with her fourth-round appearance.

No looking back in anger for Stephens

Stephens was keen to swat away any references to a controversial clash against Victoria Azarenka at last year's Australian Open as the American advanced to a possible fourth-round clash against the two-time champion on Monday.

"I don't even remember half the stuff that happened," the 20-year-old said when questioned about a possible showdown with Azarenka after she had beaten Svitolina.

"It's okay. Last year has nothing to do with this year. It's a totally different year. A lot of things have happened.

"So, you know, I'm just looking forward to getting back on the court ... hopefully on the big court. It will be exciting."

Azarenka, who was playing Austria's Yvonne Meusburger later on Saturday, was accused of at best gamesmanship, at worst cheating, when she played Stephens in last year's semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

Leading by a set and 5-4, the defending champion had just missed five match points when she took a 10-minute timeout, leaving her teenage opponent to sit and wait.

Last year has nothing to do with this year. It's a totally different year. A lot of things have happened.

Sloane Stephens

When she returned, the Belarussian broke Stephens to clinch a 6-1, 6-4 victory and a place in the final.

As jeers rang out around Rod Laver Arena, Azarenka compounded matters by making a bizarre courtside speech.

"I almost did the choke of the year," she said. "At 5-3 I had so many chances but I couldn't close it out. I felt a little bit overwhelmed that I was close to another final."

Azarenka later explained in a media conference she had misunderstood the question and had been battling a rib injury that affected her breathing.

Stephens, who had upset Serena Williams in the quarter-finals to face Azarenka for the place in the final, graciously said she felt the timeout had not been a factor in her loss.

"Looking back on it I don't think that affected anything too much, but I definitely know, if I was in the same position, which I am - obviously not in the semis - but I know what I have to do," Stephens said.

"I have to play my game and focus on myself and focus on what I do best."

Free trade is the oldest argument in federal politics and the issue that literally defined the federation era but opposition exists to the TPP, courtesy of the Investor-State Dispute Resolutions clause.